You are here

Home ›

Raymond J. Martin

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).
Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 08/17/2023 - 15:06

Raymond James Martin, 90, passed away peacefully Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at Prairie Maison in Prairie du Chien, WI, with family and hospice at his side. He was born Nov. 28, 1932, at the home farm off Shanghai Ridge in Eastman, son of William and Loretta Boylen Martin.

Ray graduated from Seneca High school in 1950. Following military service, he began his life as a passionate farmer. He married Luella Breuer on May 7, 1957, and they rented their first farm in Patch Grove. They moved to Shanghai Ridge Road in 1962 and successfully ran their dairy farm until retiring in 1996. Ray’s favorite farming activity was working the land (plowing, planting, and harvesting), so he kept busy with custom work for neighbors until moving off the farm in 2006 further up Shanghai Ridge Road.

Ray was committed to public service as well as farming. He was proud of his army service in Germany (1953-55). He served many years on the Eastman Township board until he was elected to the Crawford County Board of Supervisors. He really enjoyed serving on the Crawford County Fair Board and the Highway Commission as part of his board duties. He also served on the board of directors for the Scenic Rivers Rural Electric Co-op (when it was Crawford Electric). Ray and Luella left a lasting legacy by selling their farm’s bottom land on the Kickapoo River to the DNR so it could be enjoyed for generations to come.

Ray is survived by his wife of 66 years, Luella Martin, three siblings (Marcia Campbell, Elaine Magdalenski, and Ed Martin); three daughters Donna (Tom) LaFleur, Jeanine (Kurt) Thurmaier, and Mary (Dale) Lenz; eight grandchildren (Ben (Monica) LaFleur, Beth (Brian) Jeffords, Gina (Larry) Parce, Anna Thurmaier, Emily (Jason) Paull, Dustin (Sarah) Lenz, Jennie (Kris) Wenger, and Dominic (Amanda) Lenz, and 13 great-grandchildren (Alia and Aiden Jeffords; Andrew Ames, Eleanor and Arthur Paull; Logan, Payton and Maddox Parce; Haydin and Daven Lenz; Kallan and Harper Wenger, and Ava Lenz. One of his greatest retirement joys was watching grandkids play sports, watch them all ride the “4 wheeler” around the house, and teach them tricks like how to lick ice cream cones correctly.

He is predeceased by his parents, his sister Joan and brothers Leo, Bill, Mark, and infant Joseph.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 11, at 11 a.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Rev. Rajendran Anandan and Rev. Thomas Huff concelebrating with burial in the church cemetery, both in Eastman, WI. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Croix Hospice or St. Wenceslaus Parish

Rate this article: 
No votes yet